Ph33r, Pholly and Phairies

[smokingboot]

I am scared.

Once upon a time, way back in the 90s there was Talking Stick, a series of lectures hosted by pagans about alternative subjects. A quarterly mag came out with it, full of funky magical stuff. I subscribed to the mag, went to the pub and cheered the mighty speakers, and just generally enjoyed the pagan spiritual renaissance that was early 90s London.

It was wonderful.

But the pagans running it gave up, and Talking Stick became Secret Chiefs which had a row with The Moot with No Name, and as any scene will, splinters became daggers, factions formed, people got bored, did other stuff... it faded.

Now one of the chums who ran the original recently suggested to me over a few cocktails that I do a talk for Talking Stick's successor, Secret Chiefs. I agreed. I really need to shut my mouth in the presence of mojitos.

It would be about fairy lore of course, and I will refer back to my novel, cos it's all there. But what then?

I can talk about the movement in reverse, from 20th century eco-guardian to Victorian nursery playmate come wet dream, I can shift it back through the ages until we find the Lost People/Inexplicable Events/Fear of the Outsider-who-is-actually-Inside. Too sociological? or I could keep it magical, keep it pagan. But I don't know my audience any more so I don't know how to target my talk. Which of the many fairy identities am I talking about? And more to the point, Why? What does it matter?

I have changed since those days. Once upon a time, the story itself was enough of a why. Not now, not quite. Something has changed in me. It's natural but I am alarmed somewhat by this knowledge, cos I never felt it happen. It's like discovering my hair changed colour in my sleep. As ever, I am a thing of shreds and patches, full of brilliant bits that culminate in unintelligible cobweb, justified by its own prettiness and an internal pattern a few enjoy greatly. If my audience is, what, 5? 20? of the old crowd, doubtless I can get away with it. But I don't know these people any more, it's been a long time, someone somewhere might be expecting a conclusion from me. And God/dess help me if I find myself in a crowded pub full of intelligent strangers expecting something special.

I feel the pressure to make this a good lecture, and don't know if I can. The info is here, I know it off by heart, but what to do with it?

I am a bloody idiot for ever saying I would do this.

Comments

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

Just my opinion but...talk to them about something you're interested in, something you would want to hear. Personal enthusiasm has carried me through lectures on accountancy, health and safety, IiP...

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Enthusiasm I do! Focusing it is the problem, cos if I followed my thoughtframe to the max, I'd be doing a series of lectures from Fairies in Eng Lit to Madness and Fairy Art to Invisible People and the Aliens from the Woods. By the time I finished, time wouldn't necessarily have slowed to fairy ages, but it might seem that way!

[ravenrigan.livejournal.com]

If anything it's an easier crowd. A few of the original Bimbos still go (Gareth, Mark, Simon, and of course Bingy.) And a few or the Ravenwing lot also go (Meredith, Andrew T, Jaquie Woodward Smith) But the infamous bear pit doesn't happen any more, and people are usually really supportive. Simon has spoken there quite a few times (and at MWNN) and his stuff always goes down quite well, and it is not over intellectualised.

Most people don't take the political bollocks all that seriously and just think they are being rather silly.

Normally numbers about 20 plus of minus five. But if word gets out that you are talking I'd expect a good crowd and quite a few familiar faces.

I for one will attend, and I only go about once a year these days.

Be yourself Boot, and all will be well.

And tell me when you're talking

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

You are a great comfort you know:-)
Nov 14th is the night. Feels way too close for comfort...

[pengshui-master.livejournal.com]

I may be able to make it as well at it sounds interesting too.

I just need to make sure we got most of our packing done.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Where are you packing for?

Lovely to see you if poss, but hope to catch up soon whatever's going on!

[pengshui-master.livejournal.com]

Oh, ravenrigan and I are going to to
Consequences

[squeezypaws.livejournal.com]

Golly. No idea mate. Sounds interesting whichever way you carve it up.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

I know I can go out there and witter endlessly about Yeats and Dadd, but how to give it all a shape and a point? Structure is just such a pain.

Speaking of carving up, sorry that our repast got postponed. Very much want to meet yourself, James and of course, young master Charles asap.

[bytepilot.livejournal.com]

So long as tinkerbell gets a mention you can get the entire audience to clap at the end.

(hugs)
14th you say ?

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

And do you know, I wasn't even going to give the little madam a wink! Too tied into her boy in tights for my liking:-)

It would be lovely to see you but you certainly up the anti my dear. If I think you will be there I will be compelled to be coherent. Hmmm...

[bytepilot.livejournal.com]

(smile)
Darling gil, I seem to remember at least one evening where coherence was the last thing on your mind* yet you still held an entire audience spellbound with what I can only call Witty Repartee.

I'll be there unless the sky falls on my head.
I shall also feed you booze and whisper sweet nothings in your ear. Alas that a certain moral code prevents me doing much else. But still, it'll be good to see you one way or another.

*I can make a good guess at the top two, one of them was "more wine dammit!"

[hybridartifacts.livejournal.com]

Sounds interesting :)
If you have passion people often excuse getting a bit carried away. In the end knowing what you are talking about and having confidence (or more accurately sometimes an illusion of confidence) can make almost any talk work really well for almost any audience.

Also worth remembering that unless the talk is for a group of people who are pros at giving talks, they will nearly all be in awe that anyone can actually stand up and speak in front of an audience. That kinda helps.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Your words certainly help!

It's just this need I have to try to make it good. If I forget that, I could probably go out there and just have a good time - if this audience was anything like the old Talking Stick bunch, one would get a mandatory round of applause for being able to stand up at the end of an evening!